Athlon II X4 651 vs Core i3-4170
Athlon II X4 651
Core i3-4170
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 651 is positioned at rank 505 and the Core i3-4170 is on rank 585, so the Athlon II X4 651 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 651
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($92) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+133%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($92) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 651 and Core i3-4170
Athlon II X4 651
The Athlon II X4 651 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,584 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 651 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-4170 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 651 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 651 versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 — a 20.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Athlon II X4 651 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4170 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 651 scores 3,584 against the Core i3-4170's 3,626 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i3-4170. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 651 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+23% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,584 | 3,626+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,140 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,897 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 651 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4170 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Core i3-4170 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 651) and LGA1150 (Core i3-4170).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 651) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Athlon II X4 651 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 651 launched at $92 MSRP, while the Core i3-4170 debuted at $117. At current prices ($92 vs $40), the Core i3-4170 is $52 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 651 delivers 39.0 pts/$ vs 90.7 pts/$ for the Core i3-4170 — making the Core i3-4170 the 79.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 651 | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $92-21% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $92 | $40-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 39.0 | 90.7+133% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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